HONG KONG, April 28: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has dismissed as misplaced perception that Pakistan is an extremist society.

In an interview published in the South China Morning Post here on Wednesday , the prime minister said the perception that Pakistan was a place of extremism and fundamentalism was misplaced.

The paper quoted him as saying that there were some problems but fixing those was a matter of time - not if, but when. "We are fighting terrorism. Islam is a moderate religion - it lets you live in peace and gives a chance to go ahead in life," he said.

Responding to a question, the prime minister said democracy in Pakistan was back on track and fully functioning. All Pakistanis, he said, wanted democracy but the Western version of democracy was not acceptable to them. "Why does the West expect that Pakistani democracy would follow the pattern of Western democracy ?" he asked.

He said Pakistan was a Muslim country and it had to follow the norms of the religion, which had a complete code of life. Democracy, after all, had undergone different permutations around the world - even in neighboring countries like France and Germany it was different, he said and added that how it evolved in Pakistan was a matter of what Pakistanis wanted and needed.

Mr Jamali suggested that the country's relations with the United States should be a long-term venture. Ties with China, the country's long-term and firmest ally, would continue to strengthen, he said.

He spoke of the ongoing process of dialogue with India to resolve all their disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir. Prime Minister Jamali listed oil and gas, agriculture, minerals, fisheries and information technology sectors, coupled with good communications and infrastructure, as areas for investment that promised high return on capital.

Replying to a question, he said there was no conflict between his role and that of President Gen Pervez Musharraf. "If you work within the parameters of the Constitution, things will be fine," he said. "If you transgress the Constitution, then you're bound to falter. I have no intention to do that and neither does President Musharraf. We have a good working relationship," he said. -APP